COCL Outdoor Soccer

The 2018 spring sports season is fast approaching, so the time has come to get your child registered!! The outdoor soccer season runs through May and June, with the possibility of extending into July with post-season play.

Registration events for spring sports will be held on February 9 between 2-5 pm, February 21 between 6-9 pm and March 3 between 12-3 pm, at Gateway Alliance Church (13931 140 St).

Registration

We’ll be using the EMSA soccer portal again to pre-register players for the upcoming season. If you are new to the EMSA soccer program, please go to the EMSA North website at https://emsanorth.com/play/register/5351-2/ to create your EMSA Soccer account and pre-register for the upcoming season. The EMSA Soccer Portal is compatible with your smartphone, tablet and home computer. Online pre-registration is mandatory. You MUST pre-register online before attending a COCL registration session. There will NOT be any laptops at the registration session for you to register online.

To complete the registration process you are required to attend the COCL registration/payment session, where you will provide proof of age, sign up for your volunteer commitment, provide a uniform deposit, and pay the fees if you have not done so online.

Please bring to the COCL registration session:
1. 1 signed copy of the online pre-registration form, including proof of online payment.
2. Payment for playing fees (credit or cheque only), if not paid online. Payment for registration fees can be made either online or in person, however debit/credit will not be available in person.
3. Proof of Age for your child (birth certificate, Alberta Health Card, or passport).
4. Additional undated, signed cheques - one to guarantee your volunteer commitment ($300) (one per player to a max of 2), and one for the uniform deposit ($100) (one per player). The cheque for the uniform deposit will be destroyed at end of soccer season only once the uniform is returned to the coach.
5. 2018/19 Community League Membership card. If you don't have a 2018/19 Community Membership you will be required to purchase one in order to complete your child's registration.

For those wanting to transfer to another community you will have to pay the registration fees for that community.
Late fees will apply if you are registering after the 3rd (final) COCL registration/payment session.

Accepted Methods of Payment

Accepted methods of payment for indoor soccer are cash, cheque, or online via the EMSA registration site (registration fees only, cash or cheque required for deposits).

Volunteer commitment deposits are now $300 per child (maximum of 2 commitments required per family)

The volunteer commitment opt out option is now $300 (We reserve the right to cap number of opt outs)

There will be NO laptops or printers on site. Soccer registrations must be completed online before you attend a registration event, and you must bring your paperwork with you. Softball and Baseball registration forms will still completed in-person at registration.

Uniforms

Fees are based on team registration fees, facility fees, equipment, coach development and of course, uniforms. In order to help control the rising costs we will be continuing the $100 uniform deposit for all teams. You will need to give your uniform deposit at the registration/payment session. All cheques are made payable to COCL. Your child WILL NOT RECEIVE A JERSEY until COCL has received the uniform deposit. When you return your child’s uniform the coach will inform the Soccer Director and your cheque will be shredded. If the jersey is not returned at the end of the season, your cheque will be cashed. Please note: U6 players (Tim Horton’s) keep their jerseys but are required to return the shorts. All COCL players receive a pair of socks that they get to keep.

Please remember - UNIFORMS ARE FOR GAMES ONLY, NOT FOR PRACTICES, SCHOOL OR SHOPPING. If the jersey or shorts get returned neglected your cheque will get cashed to replace the neglected uniform.

- SHIN PADS ARE MANDATORY for games and practices for everyone and your socks must cover the shin pad.
- NO PIERCINGS ALLOWED and no taping of piercings. They must be removed as per Canadian Soccer Association rules and regulations.
- Hijabs are allowed at the discretion of the referee.

Player Cards

All players playing on a U13 - U19 teams are required to have a EMSA player card. All coaches/assistants on U11 - U19 teams must be carded as well. COACHES – please direct players to obtain replacement cards for any player cards expiring prior to DATE TBA.

EMSA will be holding carding sessions at the south soccer centre, 6520 Roper Road. Picture dates and times to be determined. Please ensure you bring government identification (birth certificate, passport, health card card, etc.) to complete the card application. Please check the EMSA Main website for dates and times once determined at www.emsamain.com

Zero Tolerance Policy

COCL Soccer has a ZERO tolerance policy for inappropriate behaviour from any player, parent and/or member of the coaching staff. This includes inappropriate behaviour on the field, off the field, leaving the dressing rooms, common area of the centres, parking lot, shopping centre, school or by the use of internet tools to threaten, bully or intimidate anyone in any manner.

If any such incidents occur we will fully cooperate with ENZSA/EMSA and the staff of the soccer centres in supporting their decision, if we feel it necessary to suspend a player, parent and/or member of the coaching staff, we as soccer directors will do so. EMSA has implemented stiffer penalties for all infractions and there will be no tolerance. If incidents are repeated, then that player, parent and/or member of the coaching staff will not welcomed back to COCL Soccer. There is no room for poor sportsmanship in COCL Soccer. Every parent, player and coach will be required to electronically acknowledge the Code of Conduct during the online registration process.

Coaching

We are usually short of coaches, especially in the younger age groups. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL NEW COACHES MUST FILL OUT A SECURITY CLEARANCE (NO CHARGE TO THE COACH) AND IT IS GOOD FOR THREE YEARS. Additionally, all coaches must have taken an age appropriate coaching course. The courses for the younger age groups are fairly short and you will be reimbursed by COCL upon receipt and completion. Course dates and locations are still being finalized.
If you volunteer to help coach/assist a COCL team you will be exempt from doing a fundraiser.

PLEASE notify us that the payment/registration session if you are interested in coaching/assisting. You can also contact soccer@cocl.org for more information.

Supporting Our Coaches

Coaching is a very rewarding experience, but it is also a big responsibility, very time consuming and not meant to be a one person job. Please help your coach by first, respecting their expectations (from arrival times for practices and games, to attitude and effort on and off the field). The coaches put a lot of preparation and time into games and practices, and it can be challenging at moments. It is essential to remember coaches are volunteers, dedicating their time to be an important part of your child’s life. Please treat all the individuals who are a part of your child’s soccer life (coaches, managers, referees) with the support and respect you would want in the same situation. Second, if your coach asks for help (i.e. team manager, a phoning parent, an equipment parent, a snack parent, etc.)…please help! This allows him/her to focus on your children, and their development in soccer, both as athletes and team members.

If you have any team or coaching concerns please have consideration for your coach. Approaching a coach directly after a game is not the best option. Ask your coach when the best time is to bring up suggestions, concerns or questions. Note: This is where a parent liaison or a team manager can be very useful.

Soccer is a team sport and the best way to teach the players the team concept, is through modeling by the coaching staff and parents. We are out there representing our children, so let’s make them proud by working together as a team. Lead by example!!

Additional Information

A player can be registered on only one team. You cannot be registered in EMSA and EIYSA. No trialist arrangements exist between EMSA and EIYSA, only within north zone EMSA teams. A trialist can play for a higher tiered team or a higher aged team. If you are approached by a coach from an EIYSA team (Inter, Strikers, etc.) to play with them for a game/tournament, your child could be suspended.

All contact with the zone/EMSA must be done through the Soccer Director. Parents or coaches are not to contact the zone directly. Any questions or concerns should be directed to soccer@cocl.org to be brought to the zone’s or EMSA’s attention.

We do our best to accommodate player requests, but keep in mind, teams have limits for player maximums or we may not be able to form a team due to not enough players or nobody has volunteered to coach. If your request cannot be fulfilled and your child needs to play with another team or community, we’ll contact you.

As in prior years, if you want your child to play with
certain friends and or coaches please note this info when you are registering
online. We do our best to accommodate player requests, but make no guarantees.

Registration Cancellation Policy

If your child is withdrawing from a COCL sports program, please email us at soccer@cocl.org, baseball@cocl.org, or softball@cocl.org so we can arrange for reimbursement. Community memberships are not refundable. Once you have registered, you will be required to fulfill your community volunteer commitment whether your child is playing for COCL or not playing at all, as registering your child means a position on a team is being held. NO EXCEPTIONS. Your registration fee will be refunded in full less a $25 administrative fee, if we are notified prior to the cutoffdate (TBD). There will be NO REFUNDS after the cutoff.